It is notable for its biannual long-distance seasonal migrations towards and from the Australian Alps, similar to the diurnal North American monarch butterfly.
During the autumn and winter it is found in southern Queensland, western New South Wales, western Victoria, Tasmania and also in South and Western Australia.
Adult bogong moths breed and larvae hatch during this period, consuming winter pasture plants during their growth.
During the spring, the moths migrate south or east and reside in mountains such as Mount Bogong, where they to spend the hot summer months in a state of dormancy in a highly social group-oriented way until their return towards breeding grounds again in the autumn.
This migration is usually inland, west of the Great Dividing Range.
But strong westerly winds during spring can blow them off course and they arrive in huge numbers in the coastal regions.
They are attracted to light and swarm against residential windows and doors at night.
Here’s our lounge room window 30/09/26
They are not dangerous, just a bit inconvenient.
The species is considered endangered.
Numbers crashed by up to 99.5% between 2017 and 2021 due to severe inland droughts, fires at breeding grounds, pesticide use and climate change.
Warming temperatures degrade their cool summer alpine resting caves.The moths are environmentally important as they provide a crucial, high-fat food source during spring for wildlife in the Australian Alps, including the critically endangered mountain pygmy-possum.
And as they travel up to 1,000 km from breeding grounds they act as important flower pollinators.
That the current strong seasonal winds have blown migrating swarms into urban areas like Sydney and the NSW coast is an encouraging sign of potential species recovery.
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